Cameron - Eight Months

If you've ever met me in person, you'd know that I'm not usually lost for words, but I'm sitting here staring at a blinking cursor really unsure of what to write for this post.  It's not that I have nothing to say, quite the opposite actually, I have too much to say, too much history and too much knowing to choose what my focus will fall on.  So here goes...

This little ball of pure delight is the second son of one of my dearest friends.  She's my 'every day' friend, the friend I talk to most frequently, the friend I can talk about pretty much anything with - even if it is by text message more often than not - the friend who I text at lunch time to say that I've baked a cake, the house is a mess and I'm in my trackies with no intention of changing ... wanna come around?  And she does.  In her trackies and we let our kids make a bigger mess while we have a cup of tea, two slices of cake and half conversations.  In this season of our lives, we're parenting together.  We celebrate and commiserate over parenting, we wrangle, cuddle, reign in and love-on our gaggle of kids, no matter who they belong to.  We have a seemingly endless supply of hand-me-downs passing back and forth between our boys, that means so much more to both of us than a few dollars saved. 

She is the most thoughtful person I have ever met. Ever.  Without exaggeration.  So when I asked if I could come over to run a test roll through my new camera with Cameron, I left with a loaf of warm homemade sourdough, half a chocolate cake and a box full of her mother's glassware that will be much loved in our home.  And these photographs of her little love, are for her.

We've known each other since we were twelve, though we only became proper friends as adults.  We've had lots of wonderful times together, one of the best New Year's Eve's I've ever had, cried and celebrated at each other's weddings, snuggled every newborn baby like they were a little piece of us too.  And they are. 

The best thing to come after all these years is that our families are friends.  So much so that every now and then I float the idea of building a home on the spare block next door to them.  The thought of a gate between our fences and kids running back and forth brings me so much joy.  Our own little village raising small children together, which we're already doing now, except how much better would it be in person instead of via text?!  Which would mean extra cuddles with this happy little guy. 

It's Friday afternoon - let's give a cheers to our wonderful friends like this fabulous woman, via text message, with martini glass emoji'sxx

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We spent about 15 minutes on this mini session with Cameron.  Two rolls of film.  To me, it's the perfect amount of time and photographs resulting from it.  Too much longer and he would have become bored with me, any more film and we're just starting to double up on what we've already taken.  If the whole family was involved in a session, we'd most definitely use more film, and spend more time, but not by much.  Mini sessions are all about quality over quantity - both in the photographs you take home with and the time we spend getting them.  Head to the contact page to ask for a look at my 2016 mini session dates before they're announced next week. 

Pentax 645n | Kodak Ektar & Kodak Porta 400 | 75mm 2.8

A Day Out at the Farm

About a month ago, we took the kids out to Serendipity Farm in gorgeous Upper Brookfield.  These little day trips are the kind of thing we want to do more of with our kiddies - pack up the car and head out to discover some lovely little gem in Brisbane, just like this. 

Serendipity is a not-for-profit rescue centre for farm animals, such as a herd of hungry, outgoing goats, sheep, alpaca, pigs, ponies, chickens, ducks and gorgeous Lagertha the camel.  What a gorgeous lady she is.  The kids loved feeding her carrots (though one was considerably more keen than the other ;-) and each time we went off for a walk around the farm, we'd find ourselves back with Lagertha. 

There is no entry fee to visit Serendipity, but cash donations are greatly appreciated, as are donations of food for the animals - we took a bag of carrots and quickly made friends with the goats!  The farm is open Sundays from 10-2, pending weather, and some school holidays.  They also operate a mobile animal farm - check out their Facebook page, HERE for more information and to enquire about visiting the centre.

Film nerd note ... on a day out like this I'd usually rely on my iPhone for photos, but I had been keen to test Kodak's Ektar in the full midday sun, and this seemed like the perfection opportunity.  I'm super happy with the results, and will be keeping a stock of it on hand in future.

Nikon F4  |  35mm Kodak Ektar

Waiting for Squidge

My beautifully-spirited, hilarious friend Mardee and her adoring (and clearly, equally as hilarious) husband Pete met me in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens for the third in their series of three pregnancy portrait sessions, 22 days shy of their little darling's due date. 

There really is something about a woman at that point in her pregnancy, perhaps because she's a good friend, it seems more palpable with Mardee. Mardee is an easy person to be happy with, to have a truckload of fun with and laugh till your cheeks hurt. But there is a different version of joy beaming from her right now ... a heady combination of realising this dream about to come true and the ultimate version anticipation, I'm sure. As someone who cares for her happiness, it's an absolute joy to witness. It's a bigger honour to be entrusted with preserving this precious moment for her, a moment that will one day seem like it was just a blink of the eye. 

I wish I could take credit for all the gorgeous laughter in this set of photographs, but it's all them ... or all Pete. Laughter makes marriage go-round, right? They've got that in spades.  

Did I describe Pete as adoring? Well, this just confirms it all. I asked if there was something, in all three of their sessions that I've missed - speak now or forever hold your peace - Pete asked if we could recreate the final scene from the movie Notting Hill, so here it is. Their sweet version of 'happily ever after'.

You guys are rocking this life. Thank you for welcoming into your secret circle of becoming parents together, it's such a joy. I cannot wait to endlessly snuggle your little bundle of joy. x 

All except the last two frames, photographed on my Pentax 645n, with Portra 800 and the stunning 105mm lens. Developed an scanned by AllChromes, Brisbane. 

Introducing my Referral Program

When you hire me to photograph this time in your life, you're directly contributing to supporting my little family and the life we lead together.  It means good food on the table, fuel in the car, clothes on our back, plus the lovely extras in life like takeaway for dinner on those crazy-busy days, saving for a family getaway and swimming lessons for our kiddies.

This work also allows me what I now know to be a luxury for so many, it means I earn an income by doing work that fulfils me, but more importantly it means I can be a little bit more of the kind of mama and wife I always wanted to be - drop off and picks up at the school gate when Georgina begins prep next year (!), dinner on the table and nights spent referring bubble baths and reading bed time stories.  It affords me precious time with our young family. 

When you have lovely things to say to others, about the work I've done for you, or the work you've seen me do and those friends & family then go on to hire me too, well, that is more appreciated that you'll know. 

To say thank you for spreading your kind words, for enjoying our experience enough to let others know about me, and to encourage you to do it more ;-)  I've put together this referral program for any completed* referral you send my way. 

Know of someone who you'd like to refer, and you think we'd hit off?  Please, send them my way.  They can call me on 0452 394 908 or email me at hello@reneetrubai.com.au - or you can send them a link to my website and they can get in touch through my contact page. 

I'd love to hear from you - and them!  x

Welcome Oliver

Meet gorgeous, bursting with chubba baby Oliver.  I invited myself over to Peta & Dave's place to meet Oliver when he was 10 days old, have a few snuggles to stave off the cluckiness and to take a few documentary style photographs of their family while I was there. 

Peta is a photographer herself, she creates beautiful posed newborn work (scroll to the bottom for a link to her work) but as a mama of two who both times attempted to photograph her own babies, I know how difficult it can be and how quickly time flies, especially when you have a busy toddler to care for at the same time. 

We sat in the kitchen for coffee and cake (never visit the home of a newborn without food ;-) while Peta & Dave filled me in on Oliver's arrival and how life has been since then.  William remembered me from their pregnancy portraits (here) and was instant buddies with me again, getting mama's spare camera out to assist me for the morning. 

Once everyone's tummies were full, we moved into the bedroom to attempt a family portrait - right before William's nap time.  For a little guy who was tired and had had a big few days welcoming baby brother, he did pretty well.

When daddy took William out for a nap, it was the Mama and Oliver show.  Just as it should be.  A mama of a newborn can never have too many photographs of herself just being mama to her tiny babe.  Life is busy, days slip by and mama is usually the one taking snap shots.  It's so important to keep mama in the picture!  It was plain to see how Peta was still riding a glorious high from her peaceful water birth at home, with Dave and William by her side through it all. 

Documentary sessions have my heart, especially when welcoming a new baby.  These are the moments you'll look back on with so much fondness - the 'everydayness' of life with the addition of something as special and enchanting as a brand new life. 

Hanging out with these guys was a joy.  Though we've only meet twice in person, they are easy-going, easy-to-laugh and so kind.  Can't wait to get back for another natter and bubba snuggles over their kitchen table x

As I mentioned earlier, Peta is a Brisbane based photographer too, with a focus on beautiful posed newborn work (you can check out Peta's work on Facebook, here), so while I was there for a visit, I suggested I could be Pete's extra pair of hands while she photographed Oliver in her own style.  We got a couple of frames and a pose or two out of him before he protested and it was time for milk again.  I couldn't resist snapping a frame from above Peta's pose ... all that gorgeous squish and soft roundness was irresistible!

The Barton Family

This newborn session was the final session in the Pregnancy & Newborn Collection that Renee & Kaine purchased to document the arrival of their gorgeous little man, Jesse Jack. 

Jesse was fifteen days old for this session, and considering how unpredictable newborn babies can be, and my love for the real moments in life, we decided on approaching this session in a very documentary manner.  Aside from a few suggestions of where to move to (the bedroom to snuggle up together and interact with their very alert little man, or by the window for a few last family frames at the end of our session), and the small collection of more posed photographs of Jesse wrapped (which we only attempted because he slept so soundly and Renee & Kaine had requested we give it a go), we stuck true to the fly-on-the wall style of documentary photography.  I hovered around the edges of this new family figuring out a very tiny and very slippery baby at bath time, when we paused for multiple feeds throughout the morning, I snapped away, and when dad was consoling an unsettled little man curled up on his chest.  These are how our days as parents of newborns are spent - doing what needs to be done for this tiny new person, and figuring out the routine of our previous lives around that.  For me, this is very best way to photograph a newborn, because when you're in the thick of it yourself, the tasks you often look upon as just that - a chore to be completed for the day - or something seemingly mundane in it's familiarity and repetition, it's so easy to overlook the beauty in those moments.

Once your baby grows a little bigger, becomes a little more adept at holding himself up, and undressing them doesn't feel so worrying - memories of what it felt like to bathe your delicate newborn fade a just a little.  Once you've established breastfeeding and those feeds begin to spread further apart, the memory of dad topping up a breastfeed with a bottle, when before you know it you're breastfeeding him again - those days when cluster feeding and growth spurts make you feel like all you've achieved all day long is feed your baby - those days begin to fade a little too, and you wonder if your mind is playing tricks on you when you think back on how much your life revolved around milk.

When I sent these guys a couple of photographs from this session for a quick look before the whole set was complete, Renee commented that she looked so tired.  For the most part, I don't think she looks overly tired, she looks a bit smitten mostly.  Though towards the end there are one or two where Renee does look tired, which is just what life was like for them then in those newborn weeks.  Only days after an intense labour and delivery, which of course sends you immediately into an exhaustion beyond what you imagined, alongside meeting the almost unrelenting needs and demands of your baby - it's only natural.  I for one am glad that there are those few photographs amongst this set that show that very real part of new parenthood, because through all of that, she still can't wipe the grin off her face.  When Jesse is old enough to recognise his mother's exhaustion, he will also see her pride at being his mama beaming from her face.

May every woman be looked upon with such obvious adoration, pride and love, as Renee is in this photograph.

I say this for most parents I work with, because it's absolutely true, and parents are making their experience their own and everyone is doing their very best.  But, these guys are doing parenthood SO WELL.  Not only that, but they're doing marriage, so well, all at the same time.  They're laying it all out there for you too, they both blog about parenthood, and their lives in general, over at NOT SO SECRET LIFE OF US.  Go check it out, follow them on Facebook HERE for their latest updates and cheer them on!  It's an entertaining, heart-strings-tugging and very honest account of their life right now.  xx

If you've missed any of the sessions from their Pregnancy & Newborn Collection, you can find their previous blog posts below.
Pregnancy Session - 29 weeks
Pregnancy Session - 35 weeks, part I
First Days Session - 22 hours old
 

The Honour Family

In the last days of winter, I was invited into the Honour Family's home to meet BJ and Nikki's sweet new son Phillip, and to make some photographs of them as a brand new family.  Phillip was a delight - I'm such a sucker for a bubba with big round cheeks like his.

If you've ever wondered what a lifestyle newborn or family session looks like, as opposed to a more posed session, this session is it.  We hung out in mum and dad's bedroom for the most part, asking everyone to snuggle up closely together on their bed.  We worked to Phillip's needs, pausing for a feed, to change his nappy, to stretch his legs to help out with a tummy upset.  During this time we chat, mostly about parenthood of course, or I might snap a few frames if it won't be too disruptive, or it's a good time to reload film and replenish the stash in my pockets.  Once Phillip was feeling a little more settled after a break, we got back to work.  We work to what feels natural, so parents will usually hold their baby as they normally do, I only asking them to move a little if it will improve our lighting, or if the baby is getting lost in layers of mum and dad's clothes, or in the crook of an arm.  I may ask the other parent to join us if everyone is comfortable and settled and we can make an extra family portrait or two.  I may ask the other parent to take the baby for a while if I feel I need a few more photographs to balance out the final collection.  Usually mum and dad will suggest a location pose change, and where it suits, I absolutely accommodate it - like the beautiful family portraits under the trees in BJ and Nikki's backyard at the end of this post.
But for the most part, we just hang out together.  It's relatively pressure free really.  And no two collections of photographs will look the same.   I hope you enjoy a little glimpse into the Honour Family's lifestyle newborn session. 

Phillip was cheery, alert and so accommodating during our session, but it was the bright morning sunshine had his attention.  Or dad, dad could steal his attention for a moment to get some killer smiles from him.  Can you believe Phillip is only six weeks old? 
Some may think that six weeks is a little far along for a newborn session, and yes, your baby will have grown and changed substantially in those short weeks, but I am growing more and more fond of sessions at this age.  The babies are a little more alert and active - look at cheeky Phillip's tongue poking and gorgeous grins in the photographs below - parents usually feel a little more settled into parenthood, mum has had time to recover somewhat from birth and they're usually more relaxed about having someone come into their home to document them parenting - and if they aren't yet getting more sleep, hopefully they've figured out the best part of the day to join their bub for a nap.  You most definitely have not missed the boat when waiting a couple of weeks to book in your session. 

I'm grateful for being invited into this kind family's home to preserve this special time of their life with photography.  These guys are such natural, easy-going parents, and even as a young baby, Phillip is a great reflection of that.  I can't say that I've ever seen a mama look so gentle and blissfully happy in almost every single photograph of her with her boys, she's head over heels for her littlest man, that's for sure.  This is such a precious season of life for them all.

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A note on styling your family for your session.  A lot of families do default to beautiful and delicate whites, pastels and neutral tones when preparing what they'll all wear for their session, which is always classic and lovely - but don't be afraid of bold colour, like Nikki and BJ have done for their session.  These deeps shades of blues, denims and charcoals are stunning, and have photographed so well. They will present beautifully in the navy coloured leather Nikki has chosen for their family album. 

Jennifer & Patrick : A Nourish Session

Jennifer was the winner of a giveaway that I ran just after World Breastfeeding Week.  I'd unintentionally begun a little week-long project throughout that week in August that ended up being very well received.  To celebrate, I gave away a Nourish session for which Jennifer was nominated by a friend - what a gift this was, for us both as it turns out. 

Jennifer warmly welcomed me into her home one morning just after Patrick woke from his morning nap.  He was interested in this new person suddenly in his home, but was more interested in his morning milk, so we settled into his mum and dad's beautiful bedroom where he could feed comfortably. 

We spoke about our relative breastfeeding experiences, and as with most mums, Jennifer had a lot of determination and support from her husband to persist with breastfeeding through those not-so-easy first days and weeks.  She mentioned many times how grateful she is to still be feeding Patrick one year on, how special this experience is. 

This session was a series of lots of little feeds - Patrick was very interested in me, as well as his best mate and dog, Joey who wandered back and forth past the bedroom window while we worked. Being one, and almost walking, he was active, curious and talkative, but would quickly realise he was still hungry and would crawl back into mum's lap for some more milk.  At one point, he crawled up into Jennifer's lap but instead of laying down, he sat and wrapped his legs around her middle.  Completely adorable, the first photograph I took after this has got to be one of my favourites from their whole collection. 

I'm so pleased it was Jennifer who won this session, I know she felt a little nervous before we began our session, but I now know she's happy we did the session and preserved this wonderful time in her life as mum to gorgeous Patrick - so much so that she and her husband were happy for me to write this blog post for them.
I look forward to being invited back in future, Jennifer was incredibly sweet, more at ease in front of the camera than she probably felt at first, and we bonded immediately over sharing this season of life - raising small children.  Spending time with Jennifer and Patrick on a particularly warm morning this winter was such a treat.  xx

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NOURISH: Milk Drunk Love Stories sessions are a lovely documentary style photography session dreamt up to celebrate that time in our lives as young parents when our children are so reliant upon us for nourishment and nurturing.  The collection of photographs from these sessions are presented in a hard bound 6x6 inch book to well preserve and celebrate this moment in time.
Feeding our babies and small children is so much more than a food source, it's a daily practice of bonding, slowing down together, learning about each other, loving on each other and relaxing, for you both.  These sessions are not solely for breastfeeding parents, they're for any parent who is feeding their baby.  Please click through to the contact page or call me on 0452 394 908 to book a session for yourself. 

Welcome Arleea Grace

And baby girl makes eight!
 
Arleea is a lucky little girl, she's been born into a family full of ready made friends, allies and her own personal cheer squad in life.  Arleeais the youngest of six, the littlest sister in a family bursting at the seams with the wonderful chaos that a bigger family brings.  Being invited into their home was a treat.  Sure it's a little noisy and busy, as you would expect, but it was brimming with life. 

Lots of laughter, chatter, playing together, managing disputes, tending to sleepy toddlers or a finger caught in the back door, a little person retreating to a quieter corner of the house when they needed their own space.  Through all of that, this little lady was peaceful and ever observant.  So peaceful when she was being snuggled by mama, and voicing her disapproval at being anywhere else. 

Mama, Arleea and I worked quietly in a corner of the house, while life in their family went on around us.  Little Braxton had just woken from his afternoon nap, and was stuck like glue to daddy.  Life's a bit rough when you're no longer the baby of the family.  The big kids were either outside on the trampoline, in their playroom or sneaking snacks.  I was lucky enough to have two gorgeous little helpers following me around, who not only let me take a snuggly photo of the two of them sitting on the window sill together, but invited me for a sleep over as I was packing to leave;-) 

When we stopped for Arleea to be fed, something really lovely happened.  (Lovely for me perhaps because I'm on the outside looking in, and I would love to add a baby or two more to our little family).  Mama sat on the couch and began feeding, and one by one the older children came quietly and gently to join her.  Seeing as almost everyone was in the same spot, I asked the others to join us.  It was quick, and just one frame, but I'm not-so-quietly high-fiving myself for this last photo of this lovely family all together.  Look at all that love squashed up on the couch together.   xx

Photography's Place in Your Family's History

I adore this work I'm intrusted with.  I have small glimpses into the lives of other families, the way they live, the way they love each other - and my work is to show that back to them in the photographs I make with them. 

Though, I can't say that I come across many people that feel comfortable with the notion of getting in front of a camera, there is always an excuse at the ready.  But those excuses rob you of preserving and existing in your family's history.  However you choose to preserve it - via the camera on your phone, another photographer who takes your fancy, or with me - I can't emphasise the importance of this enough. 

This is why, and how, I do what I do...

Too often we seek out the so-called 'picture perfect photos' of our family - matching clothes, clean faces and happy smiles looking down the barrel of a camera lens.  With that comes the pressure of perfection - everyone reminded to be on their best behaviour, no running around until we've finished and please smile nicely.  I want to challenge that so-called perfection with documenting the real stuff that our 'every day' is filled up with, which is rarely picture perfect in the traditional sense, but much more important.

How often do you hear parents lament at how quickly time is passing?  How quickly their children are growing from baby to toddler to child.  We see it every day in their fierce determination for independence, their increased capabilities and comprehension of life, and the way their bodies grow and change so rapidly. 

When we look back at the years that have passed so swiftly - be it fifty years or five - it probably won't be those picture perfect days of clean faces and a tidy home that we remember with joy in our hearts.  More often than not it will be the day-long trips to the beach full of castle building, splashing in the ocean and fish and chips wrapped in paper.  The back seat of the car filled with sand and happily-exhausted, sleeping kids on the drive home. 

Or the weekend mornings in winter, everyone wearing flannel pyjamas piled into mum and dad's bed for cuddles and wrestling before getting up for the day.

Or the afternoons spent reading books, building towers taller than themselves, baking biscuits and the endless hours of drawing at the kitchen table.

I have been a parent for a relatively short time, but if I think back to the little moments that have already passed me by that I want to remember forever, I'm transported back to the foggy newborns days of endless hours rocking and feeding small babies, manoeuvring their tiny limbs through their teeny clothes.  The sight of a round, nappied bottom of a confidently crawling baby escaping down the hall.  Right now the moments that bring me joy are when I lift my increasingly heavier kids onto the kitchen bench to help crack eggs into the cake batter before the battle for the wooden spoon, and sleepy post-nap cuddles on the couch, little arms wrapped around my neck, warm faces snuggled into my chest.

THIS.  All of this, and one million more moments unique to every family is what I adore photographing - families at any stage of life just living their lives.  The families I photograph are thrilled to have a real  moment in their family's history frozen in time. 

WHY?  Because it's easy - we chat about your family beforehand, we have a rough idea of how we'll spend our morning or afternoon together, we let the kids dress themselves and I show up with my gear while you just keep going on with your day.  Easy.  No one is acting out a part in a play, there are no expectations other than to 'be yourself' and I won't ask you to move into corny poses if it's not your thing.  Mum, you will love it because you're in the photographs too.  Mostly though, you will love it because it's real.  When you look at your photographs you can hear the sounds of your children playing in your home, smell those biscuits baking in the kitchen of the house you've outgrown and remember how those little arms felt wrapped tightly around you.  As time moves on, these photographs become more important, they become filled with more joy and are looked upon with so much fondness. 

I'm writing this today because I want to convince you of the importance of existing in the photographs that will make up your family's history.  I want to convince you that these photographs can be unique to your family, that they will be real, that they will document your life beautifully - they will preserve it and they will celebrate it.  And I want to convince you that you can have a lot of fun having your photographs taken, you just have to be yourself and trust me with the rest.  xx

If you're in the Brisbane area, let's chat some more about your session, click through to contact me, here.